I thought the Third era would be relatively straightforward given I lived and played in it - my generation et al! Not so!
The first issue was the overlap of players playing for another decade in the Sixties as I’ve referred to several of them in the Second era and secondly forty years is a long period to compare with essentially amateur players after the introduction of overseas professionals in the late 1970s.
The whole landscape changed significantly at NCU and North-West and matches were won by the ‘hired guns. If you had the funds, you were in the big picture and most of it was directed against Waringstown, Donemana and Brigade who dominated at this period. Eventually they dropped the amateur status and joined the bandwagon and restarted their dominance.
My Third Era also overlapped at the end of the Nineties and players like Decker Curry are included in the modern era.
During that period most of the NCU clubs competed with Waringstown but most of the ‘hired guns’ at Limavady came from other clubs including Donemana.
The Third Era produced some outstanding players at every level-batsmen, fast bowlers, spin bowlers, all-rounders and wicketkeepers. Some of their clubs enjoyed brief periods of glory, but Waringstown were still the team to beat in the NCU. Waringstown were packed with Internationals-Davy Dennison, Alwin Spence, Ivan Anderson, Michael Reith, Alan and Noel Nelson, and four Harrisons-Roy, Jim, Deryk, and Garfield and brother-in-Law wicket-keeper Eddie Bushe and his son Jonathan. This era also produced some of the All-Time Greats in Irish cricket-players like Ivan Anderson, Dermott Monteith, Simon Corlett and Roy Torrens. These are automatic selections.
My selection will probably ruffle a few feathers, but at the end of the day it is opinion as there is nothing right or wrong. As the great Donald Shearer once said it is fantasy when players get together when it is raining!
I have put them in batting order.
1 MICHAEL REITH (WARINGSTOWN and NORTH DOWN)
Reith was an aggressive opening batsman, medium pace swing bowler excellent fielder and astute Captain. Played at 14 in the strong Waringstown team that won so many triumphs over the years. His first cap was at Sion Mils against West Indies when they were skittled out for only 25. Mike won 44 caps and scored 11 fifties and a century (129) against Netherlands at the Hague in 1970. He had six half-centuries in the Guinness Cup and captained both Ulster Town and Ulster Country.
2 DAVID DENNISON (WARINGSTOWN)
Another attacking opening batsman who dominated the NCU batting averages in the Eighties. His finest innings was probably in the Senior Cup Final against Lugan with 137 in a bitter exchange between their great rivals in 1983. Some felt he should have won more caps as his Interprovincial record was impressive with two centuries and four fifties.
This combination of left and right handers at the top of the order was ideal in my team.
Others under consideration were Cregagh’s Charlie Corry, Lisburn’s Tom McCloy, Bangor’s Conn McCall and Ardmore’s Cyril Ward.
3 STEPHEN WARKE (WOODVALE)
Stephen Warke was always in my team. The only problem was fitting him in the early order. He was a much different batsman to Reith and Dennison. He was tailor-made to accumulate runs with a solid defence and won 114 Ireland caps with four centuries and 28 fifties. He was a model of consistency at BRA School, Woodvale, Interprovincial and Irish level. Above all, he was a lovely person and a charming personality. He captained Ireland 39 times.
4 IVAN ANDERSON (ARMAGH and WARINGSTOWN)
Ivan Anderson had everything! Outstanding stylish batsman, frugal off-spin bowler, brilliant cover point fielder and would certainly have played county cricket had he chosen. He broke so many records at club, Interprovincial and Irish levels ensuring he will never be forgotten. He is a Legend in Irish cricket and arguably the best. He played 86 times with seven centuries and 13 fifties. He also took 48 wickets. Amongst his many achievements, his highest score was 198 not out against Canada in Toronto in 1973. He was the first player to be included in my fantasy Ulster All-Greats.
5 STEPHEN SMYTH (BRIGADE, EGLINTON and LIMAVADY)
A prolific batsman in the North-West and probably the best of his era alongside Decker Curry. Together at Limavady they were virtually invincible. He played for Ireland 64 times and scored ten fifties and a century (102no) against MCC in 1998. He was a fiery individual and made some bad decisions that virtually ended his International career while he was still at his peak. However, there is no doubt Stephen was a top-class batsman.
6 GARFIELD HARRISON (WARINGSTOWN)
The youngest of an amazing family that produced six brothers, four of them Internationals and one that should have been! An all-rounder who started as a fast bowler and turned into one of the finest spin bowlers in that era. He was always an excellent batsman testimony with his 118 Ireland caps, twelve fifties and a century (105 no) against Scotland in 1994. He also took 140 wickets. He was a tough competitor, just like the Harrison akin to Yorkshire cricket. He was named after the great West Indies cricketer Sir Garfield Sobers.
Worthy mentions included-Roy, Jim and Deryk Harrison, Clarke Nicholl, Tom Harpur, Robert Wills, Hugh and Alfie Linehan, Noel Ferguson, Ian Rankin and Ross McCollum.
7 DERMOTT MONTEITH (LISBURN)
There are many things that could be said about ‘Monty’ but for many people he was simply the best Irish bowler in Irish cricket. A left-arm spinner and excellent batsman his records were awesome. Never short of an opinion he played for Ireland 76 times and could have played more as he was injured after a hit-and-run accident in 1984. He took 326 wickets and seven fifties with the bat. Another who could and did play County cricket (at Middlesex). He was blessed with a brilliant cricket brain and a Captain like no other. So much more could be said of Monty.
8 SIMON CORLETT (NORTH OF IRELAND)
One of the best fast bowlers in Irish cricket, Simon Corlett went to Oxford and was awarded a Blue in 1971 and 1972 and played for Nottinghamshire 2nd XI before he arrived in Belfast. He played for Ireland for 13 years and was capped 73 times taking 233 wickets. He was a useful batsman and scored four fifties, mostly in the lower order. He had a beautiful action and for many batsmen they found him too quick with his swing both ways. His best bowling in the NCU was 104 wickets for North in 1982, rare for any bowler in that generation. He was also a more than useful off spinner. He had it all, superb fast bowler, off-spinner, useful lower order batsman, excellent fielder and always fit. The complete cricketer!
9 ROY TORRENS (BRIGADE)
Roy Torrens was a Colossus in Irish cricket, not only as a player, but throughout his life. His bubbly personality was huge and when he thought he was invincible it was gone in a flash when Covid ended his life all too short. In his 30 caps he took 77 wickets and was one of the fastest in Irish cricket. He was the hub of Brigade and North-West cricket and the like we will never see again. He became Ireland Team manager during the hugely successful period when they qualified for the World Cup in the West Indies in 2007.
10 JOHN ELDER (BANGOR)
Ger Siggins once said he was affable off the field but an assassin on the pitch! He could be very fast especially on uneven pitches. He was tall and generated a lot of bounce that batsmen found difficult to score from. In his 37 caps he took 70 wickets but didn’t score much as a batsman. He was a fearsome bowler with a resounding crack every time he bowled.
Others that could have been included were Jim Patterson, Paul McCrum, Alan Johnston and Alan Jeffrey.
11 OSSIE COLHOUN (SION MILLS)
Wicket-keeper Ossie Colhoun was capped by Ireland 87 time and was exceptional. He was just 20 when he won his first cap against Lancashire in 1959 and rarely missed a game over the next twenty years, ending with 87 caps and 190 dismissals, the record until Niall O’Brien passed it in his 184th match in 2016.
A stalwart of the Sion Mills club he was a fearless keeper, standing up to most bowlers and lethal down the leg side. One of his lasting achievements was to be one of the few wicket keepers to stump Len Hutton in a first-class match.
Seasoned observers insist Colhoun is still the greatest wicket-keeper to play for his country.
Two other exceptional wicket-keepers and unlucky not to have been chosen were Paul Jackson (North) and Eddie Bushe (Waringstown).
Others that could also have been included Instonians Carson Rose, (uncapped) North Down Denis Artt (uncapped), and Woodvale Alan Rutherford.
I deliberated for some time on the merit of an All-rounder but eventually decided the team included five genuine all-rounders Reith, Anderson, Harrison, Monteith and Corlett and didn’t need it. However, if I included one it would be Junior McBrine, in front of Robin Haire, Charles McCrum and Ian Johnston.
The Captain would be Dermott Monteith who for many people felt he was a maverick in his captaincy, although I would rather say he was positive, visionary and at times speculative.
JCH
